Holiday Allergies Allergy Asthma

Parents and Parenting: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) offers twelve tips to help allergy and asthma sufferers get through the holidays without triggering dangerous allergy or asthma attacks or symptoms.

Family Site Since 1997

Parents and Parenting

Avoiding Allergy and Asthma Attacks: Holiday and Travel Tips

Jan Wilson

Parents and Parenting: Many allergy and asthma sufferers find the holiday season holds several potential triggers.Tips for avoiding during holidays and while traveling for holidays.

Good information for parents:

1. Before decorating a live Christmas tree, allow it to dry out on an enclosed porch or garage. You also may want to explore whether the tree retailer has a shaking machine, which will physically remove some allergens from the tree.

2. Clean artificial Christmas trees outside before decorating. They can gather mold and dust in storage.

5. When spraying artificial snow on windows or other surfaces, be sure to follow directions. These sprays can irritate your lungs if you inhale them. 6. When attending holiday parties, inform the host about your food allergy and ask about the ingredients used to prepare the meal.

7. Carry self-injectable epinephrine in case you accidentally eat a food to which you are allergic. Homemade items do not have ingredient lists and can be contaminated with trace amounts of allergenic foods through contact with storage containers, baking sheets and utensils. 8. Remind family members and friends that strict avoidance is the only way to manage food allergies and even one little bite can hurt. 9. If visiting relatives’ homes who have pets, take medication before arriving to minimize a possible reaction.

10. The holidays can be a very stressful time of year. Pay attention to your stress level, which can sometimes lead to an asthma attack.

11. Ask your relatives and friends to avoid burning wood in the fireplace. The smoke can trigger an asthma attack.

More information about parents and parenting.

Spanish book is available Buy Spanish Edition

Buy DVD Review 1-2-3 Magic Managing Difficult Behavior

Buy DVD Review 1-2-3 Magic Encouraging Good Behavior

12. Dust mites can be especially troubling when traveling away from home, take your own pillow with an allergen-proof cover and request down-free pillows if staying in a hotel.

Additional information about parents and parenting.

CyberParent Recommended Reading for More Information or Educational Entertainment: These Books and Visuals Are Classics in Their Fields.

Note: The opinions expressed herein areexclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position ofCyberParent. They are not intended to take the place of advice of a health orother professional whose expertise you might need to seek.